Activa to Ampere Magnus G Max: Why This Delhi Commuter Switched to Ampere

The Indian two-wheeler community is going through a revolution where electric scooters are taking over from traditional ICE ones. Today, we bring you one such story: a Delhiite whose life has changed after switching from a Honda Activa to an Ampere Magnus G Max.

Ashok Kumar's day starts much the same as it has for years. He wakes up, has breakfast and leaves his home in Saket by 8 AM. The one thing that has changed is the scooter parked outside. For six years, he rode a Honda Activa. Since March of 2026, he has been riding an Ampere Magnus G Max.

The Commute That Decides Everything

Ashok works in Gurugram, at one of the offices on MG Road, and makes the trip there and back every working day. It’s 14 km each way, or 28 km a day, through some of Delhi-NCR’s busiest stretches, including the Saket flyovers, NH-48 and the traffic around MG Road during peak hours.

“On a bad day, this commute used to cost me more in fuel than in time,” he says. “I was filling up almost twice a week.” The daily commute was the main reason he started considering an electric scooter.

Why the Switch, and Why Ampere

Ashok looked at a few scooters before settling on the Magnus GMax. He had seen Ather and Ola showrooms open near his office, while some of his colleagues had already switched to electric scooters.

“I wasn't chasing the fastest or the flashiest scooter. I wanted something that would comfortably do my daily 28 km without me thinking about charging every evening,” he says.

The Magnus GMax has a claimed range of up to 142 km on a full charge. For Ashok, that meant he didn't need to charge it every day. In his regular use, one charge was enough for roughly two to three days of commuting.

Price also played a role. At Rs 1.03 lakh (ex-showroom), the Magnus GMax provided much more value than Ather and TVS's electric scooters, while offering more performance and range.

Living With It: The First Few Months

Ashok's biggest concern before buying the GMax was whether he would miss his Activa.

“The Activa never gave me any trouble in six years. That's a hard thing to walk away from,” he admits. After a few months with the GMax, he says the switch hasn't felt like a compromise. He particularly likes the instant response from the electric motor, which has made his daily commute through Saket traffic easier.

“In stop-and-go traffic, there's no vibration, no slow speed hesitation - you twist and go. On MG Road at 9 AM, that matters more than top speed ever will.”

Running costs have also been lower. Ashok charges the scooter at home overnight and says his electricity bill is significantly lower than what he used to spend on petrol. He no longer has to make regular trips to the fuel station.

What He Likes

• Running cost: He charges the scooter overnight at home, which costs considerably less than what he used to spend on petrol.
• Industry best warranty: 5year/75,000km battery warranty offers peace of mind
• Battery Life: With LFP Battery, he will get battery life of 2,00,000km ensuring that the battery lasts the lifetime of the scooter
• Boot space and practicality: There is enough space for his daily bag and a spare helmet. He says this has turned out to be more useful than he initially expected.
• Low maintenance: There are no engine oil changes or clutch-related maintenance, and the electric drivetrain has fewer moving parts.
• Instant response in traffic: The motor responds immediately when he opens the throttle, which he finds useful when moving through gaps in traffic.

What He'd Change

The switch hasn't been without its drawbacks.

• Charging: Unlike a petrol scooter, which can be refuelled in a few minutes, the GMax needs to be charged for a few hours in advance just like one’s mobile phone. Ashok charges once in a couple of days. 
• Highway riding: On the long distances outside of the city, he pays more attention to the remaining range than he did with his Activa. He hasn't run out of charge, but range is something he now keeps an eye on.

Would He Recommend It?

“If your commute is defined and not wildly unpredictable, an Ampere Magnus GMax makes sense,” Ashok says. “Mine is the same 28 km/day, five days a week. That predictability is exactly what made the switch easy.”

For Ashok, the GMax hasn't completely replaced everything he liked about the Activa. But for his daily commute, he says it has worked more than he expected.